Pakistan’s Aggressive Opener Fakhar Zaman Ruled Out of Bangladesh ODI Series

Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan’s aggressive opening batsman, has been ruled out of the upcoming One Day International (ODI) series against Bangladesh due to a hamstring injury.

Zaman, who played a commanding innings against Sri Lanka in the ICC T20 World Cup, will undergo rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to regain fitness ahead of future assignments.

Pakistan’s team is scheduled to tour Bangladesh later this month for a three-match ODI series. The squad will arrive in Dhaka on March 9, participate in a practice session on March 10, and play the first ODI on March 11. The second and third ODIs are scheduled for March 13 and March 15, respectively, with all matches set to take place at Sher-e-Bangla Stadium.

This will be Pakistan’s second tour of Bangladesh since July 2025. During the July 2025 T20 International series, Bangladesh emerged victorious, while Pakistan had previously won a 3-0 T20I series at home in May–June 2025 under the captaincy of Salman Ali Agha.

Reports indicate that regional tensions could potentially affect the tour, though sources suggest that if travel risks remain manageable, the series is expected to proceed as scheduled.

To build a stronger squad, Pakistan may include young players in the ODI lineup while underperforming T20 players could be left out. Consideration is being given to giving opportunities to emerging talent in place of Saima Ayub, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Nawaz.